Track lubricator



Nov. 18, 1941. E. E. MARTIN TRACK LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22,, 1940 INVENTOR: Edgar z. Dfart ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES: @54

1941- E. E. MARTIN TRACK LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N v Q a r// Filed June 22, 1940 INVENTOR: Z'dgarEJWZI/rZ/Lm ATTLORNEYS.

E. E. MARTIN TRACK LUBRICATOR Nov. 18, 1941.

Filed June 22, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR:

i'd ar E. Martin I A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 18, 1941. E. E'. MARTIN TRACK LUBRIGATOR INVENTOR;

ATTORNEYS.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 22, 1940 FIG: 2-

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 Edgar E. Martin, Altoona, Pa., assignor to Maintenance Equipment Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 22,1940, Serial No. 341,794

12 Claims.

This invention has general reference to means m for automatically lubricating track rails and, more particularly, relates to the species comprising a mechanical device, or devices, operated by passage of car Wheels thereover and effective to intermittently elevate and. apply the lubricant by dabbing, wiping, or other action. Means of the indicated type as heretofore constructed either include a brush or wiper means designed to pick-up and apply the lubricant to the side of the rail for carriage therealong by the car wheels and effect lubrication of such rail for considerable distance beyond the point of initial application. These means, while measurably satisfactory, have not proven highly successful after lengthy use owning to the necessity for adjustment of the brushes due to wearing down of the bristles, or renewal of wiper means for a corresponding reason.

Other disadvantages inhering to lubricators of the indicated type are the difficulties experienced in effectively securing such devices to the rail against working loose and initially adjusting them so that the quantity of lubricant elevated and applied to the rail head remains constant over extended periods of time, or as long as there remains a sufficiency of the lubricant in the reservoir to effect elevation.

The fundamental objects of this invention are, to overcome the noted disadvantages in a simple and positive manner, to provide a track lubricator characterized by a novel form of lubricant elevating and applying device, and to furnish an improved clamp for securing such lubricators to the track rail.

Subsidiary objects and ancillary advantages of this invention will appear as the nature thereof is better understood, said invention consisting substantially in the novel items of construction, the combination and co-relation of parts herein fully disclosed, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and finally pointed out and specifically defined in the concluding claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a track lubricator embodying the present improvement, parts being broken away and others in section to better illustrate structural details.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, taken approxithe plane arrows IIIIII in Fig. 1, said view being drawn to larger scale for clearer illustration of certain relatively movable parts in normal position. 7

Fig. 4 is a View, similar to the preceding, with the movable parts indifferent position.

Fig. 5 is a broken section, taken as indicated by the arrows VV in Fig. 2, but'drawn to larger scale for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 6 is a larger scale, fragmentary section withinthe limits of the arrows VI--VI appearing in the right-hand end portion of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a larger scale, sectional view, on the plane VII-VII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a corresponding section on the plane VIII-VIII of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 9 is a part elevation and part sectional view illustrating the lubricant elevating effect resultant upon the initial dip of a lifter or rocker arm hereinafter fully described.

Fig. 10 is a similar illustration showing the parts in a different position with incident elevation of lubricant consequent to succeeding dips; and,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified detail hereinafter fully explained.

In the following detailed explanation of the embodiment of this invention, shown by the accompanying four sheets of drawings, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood that such terms are used in a descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. Each specific term is intended to include all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish an analogous purpose.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, a conventional railroad track rail is comprehensively designated by the reference character I,

' the same embodying a base 2, web 3, and head 4, said rail being mounted on standard type seat members 5, in turn secured by spikes 6 to associated' cross-ties 1.

mately as indicated by the plane indicating ar- The open-top lubricant reservoir 8 is preferably of sheet steel welded construction, that is to say it embodies a bottom 9 and back It) in one piece, with an integral skirt defining a downwardly-inclined front and opposed end walls II, I2, respectively. The reservoir 8 has permanently secured to the outer face of the bottom 9, spaced knee-braces I3 of channel-section with the top faces I4 pitched relative to the horizontal, so that the reservoir 8, when applied, inclines downwardly towards the rail web 3, for a purpose hereinafter exp-lained; while the uniting seam of the skirt to the bottom 9 and back is conventionally indicated as a weld l At each lower corner, and permanently secured to the reservoir end walls I2 is a lug. l6 having a screw-threaded orifice therethrough for reception of an adjuster stud l1 coactive with the rail base 2 andprovided with a jam-nut I8 thereon.

Each knee-brace i3 is formed in its back wall [9 with an elongatedaperture 20 having flanking ridges 2|, respectivelyafiording passage for the shank of a clamp or track bolt 22, and for reception of the head '23 of said bolt toiprevent its rotation. Engaged on the bolt 22'are inner and outer filler and rail end clamp elements 24, 25, respectively, each of which is formed with a claw portion 26 adapted to grip the upper'confronting face of the rail base 2, while the rail end clamp element 25 has theinner face 21 inclined to the vertical. "The bolt 22 has the shank freefend screw-threaded for reception of a"'helical lock washer 28 and'nut 29, whereby the clamp elements 24, 25 are rigidly secured to therail base 2, while the railend'clamp inclined face 2'! obviouslyensurestight grippage of said elements against Working loose under the incessant vibrations to which track rails are subjected; It is to be'here remarked that the upper edge of the reservoir back wall [0 is longitudinally grooved at '30'for reception of an'appropriate joint'member 3| having the extremities 32 angled down and engaged in retainer sockets 33, Figs. 5 and 6, provided for the purpose,

Referring now to the lubricant elevating and applying meanswhich, in the embodiment illustrated, comprise three individual units each designated generally 'as34, one only will be dewhereby provision is'afi ord ed for rotating said ratchet, by aid of a spanner wrench for instance, to vary the tension of the spring 48 in an obvious manner. The latch 52 is under the influence of recoil spring 58, anchored at one end 59 to said latch and at the other end to a suitable clip 60 permanently fixed to the reservoir bottom 9.

Transversely of each of the reservoir inclined end Walls l2, at an intermediate elevation thereof, there is permanently attached a combination cover guide and apron hinge member 6|. This member 6|, as best understood from Fig. 2, is of a cross-section to define a longitudinal groove 62 for sliding reception 'of the lateral lip 63 embodied with the side flange 64 of the reservoir cover '65, which is also provided with an inclined attaching lug 66 having a slot 67 engageable scribed in detail in order to avoid repetitive 'explanation. Each unit 34; it will be noted, preferably comprises a' shaft saddle 35, in the form of a block having a rectangular groove" 36" in the upper end; said block being permanently secured to the inner face of the reservoir bottom 9, inspacial relation to the back wall 10,

and having a screw-threaded bore 31,: for a purpose later explained. Mounted at one end in a bushing 38, rigid with the reservoir end wall lfl' and fitted with a socket cap 39, is a stationary'rocker-arm shaft 49, having the other end portion suitably shaped at 4| for seating in the saddle block rectangular groove 36, and rigid fixture as by a screw-stud 42 passed through a hole I saddle block bore 31;with an interposed'lock washer 44.

Freely mounted on the inner end of the shaft with capacity for oscillatory movement, as

therein and threadedly engagedin the hereafter set forth, is a rocker armor lubricant applicator 45 of special construction; a spacer sleeve 46, and a ratchet 41, all of which are operatively coordinated by a spiral tension spring 48 having the free ends appropriatelyhooked.

at 49, and respectively anchored in abore59 in the rocker arm 45 and a similar bore 5| in the ratchet 41. p I s For applying the requisite tension to the springs 48 for automatically raising the rocker arms 45 to maximum position, each ratchet 41 has an associated latch 52, see Figs. 3 and 4 to best advantage, said. latch being pivoted at 53 to a clevis 54 permanently fixed to the bottom 9 of the reservoir 8. Each latch 52 embodies a dog projection 55,.forscoaction with the claw teeth 56" of the ratchet 47 and'a release finger 5T,

over a staple member 68 projecting from the reservoir front wall H, see Figs. 1 and 2; while a cover securing taper key 69 drifted through the-staple aperture-m serves to hold the cover 65 in assembly', and

application and removal of said cove A flanking inclined side apron 12 having one edge retroverted at" 73, Fig,- 2,, forsnu'g'engage ment with an overshot longitudinal-edge 14 of the'member 6|, is slid-along said edge into abutment with the rail web -at each-side of the reser voir 8 and is appropriatelyfixed to the adjacent tie 1 by a spike'or spikes, not Shown, engaged through ahole or'holes in said apron} and it will be apparent that by providing the cover 65 tive means is furnished in'conjunction with the aprons 12 for draining-ofi moisture and accumulating dirt or other matter. The rib 75, it"is to be noted, preferably in slam-tapers from'the medial point, considered lengthwise, towards the rail web 3 in both'directions so as to induce drainage towards the respective aprons/12;

Referring again to the rocker arms 45, and as best understoodifromFigs. 7-1'0,inclusive, each such, rocker arm embodies an apertured fulcrum portion 16 with a lubricant elevating-applicator portion 1'], and an opposedlydirected stop portion or'h'eel 18, in the. latter of. which is provided the bore 50 hereinbefore referred to. The elevating-applicator portion 11, it is to be particularly'observed, is formed. in the nature of an inverted scoop with the hollow 19 facing'towards the inner surface of the backlwall ID of the reservoir 8; said hollow being of .semi-coniform shape or angular contour as defined by straight edges merging into an upper rounding 8 l abutting the reservoir backvwall expanding downwards at 82 a lower-flare 83. 1111 the upperportion of the hollow 79 are a plurality of: graduated arcual grooves 84 0f saw-tooth cross-section-in the radial direction; or, more specifically, the lower'curved surfaces 85 of said grooves are substantially at right angles to the plane of the'railwebi'3 where as the upper curvatures'86'are at an" acute angle with respect to said plane. In addition, the rocker arm portion 17 may be provided with a flaring lip 81 and an applied tread portion 88 for coaction with the railroad car wheels, ashereafter explained. Instead of 'the saw-tooth section retainer grooves 84 being formed in the lubricator elevating hollow 79, they may be provided in the reservoir end wall l0-as shown in Fig. 11; or as clearly apparent such retainergroovesimay be furnished in both the elevator hollow'lflz-and confrontingly in the end wall ['0 with obvious ad- Hl, and 'curvilinearly with mergence' into ditional efiiciency.

uitable means such as a l V hasp H isprovided on' the lug 66 to facilitate when the lubricator, constructed as described, has been attached to the track rail' I, with each of the rocker arms 45 and reservoir adjusted so that the former have free movement and light contact with the rail head 4, the desired tension is applied to the springs 48, as hereinbefore explained, and it is preferable that the reservoir 8 be properly filled with lubricating grease 89 to approximately the level indicated on Figs. 9 and 10, and the rocker arm hollows l9 primed by manual depression of each said arm, until the grease 89 is elevated to the rail confronting face of the rocker arm flaring lip 81; it being obvious that the cover 65 is furnished with suitable openings 90, to permit the rocker arm elevator-applicator part I1 being normally in part projected above said cover under influence of the tension spring 48. This initial priming action is necessary to avoid possible damage to the lubricator parts before a train is permitted to pass over the lubricator, as otherwise the tension on the springs 48 should be released so as to permit the rocker arm portions 11 to drop to the bottom of the reservoir 8, or be free of action by a passing car wheel flange. As the wheels of a train approach and roll along the rail I, it will be clearly apparent that the flange portion 9| of each wheel, as conventionally indicated by dotand-dash'lines in Figs. 2 and 5, will consecutively engage rocker arm tread portions 88 and depress the portions 11 into the grease 89, as clearly understandable from Figs. 9 and 10. Incidental to successive actuations of the rocker arms 45 as just mentioned, grease 89 will be constantly elevated in the hollows 19, under gradually increasing pressure upwards, and so held by the arcual grooves 84 that the normal tendency of said grease will be to ooze upwards and spread over the rail confronting face of the elevator-applicator 11 and resultant production of smears or dabs 92, Fig, 5, onto the rail head side, such smears or dabs being picked up by the car wheels and spread along the rail head for a considerable distance beyond the reservoir 8; while it will be apparent the grease used is changed for extremes of temperature.

From the foregoing it will be clearly understood that by this invention there is provided an efficient track lubricator which fully justifies the objects enumerated in the prefatory paragraphs of this specification; while it will be equally apparent that changes in detail can be made without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages set forth; also that nothing herein is to be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

l. The combination with a track rail of a lubricant reservoir; a spring-influenced lever, pivotally mounted in the reservoir, having a conicsection rail confronting hollow, said hollow embodying graduated means for progressively picking-up, holding and influencing, the contained lubricant upwards for deposit against the rail head opposing face, and means for varying the tension of the spring influencing the lever aforesaid.

2. The combination with a track rail of a lubricant reservoir; a car-wheel actuable lever pivotally supported in the reservoir; a conic section rail-confronting hollow in said lever with vertically spaced arcual grooves in the upper part and an outward flare at the lower end; said hollow serving to pick-up, and the arcual grooves to progressively influence and hold the contained lubricant for intermittent deposit against the rail'head opposing face; a tension spring normally: holding the lever hollow portion elevated above the level of lubricant in the reservoir for depression by passing car wheels; and a spring-influenced ratchet and latch means for adjusting the tension of the first. mentioned spring.

3. A track rail lubricator comprising a reservoir, a wheel-actuable spring-influenced lever pivotally mounted in the reservoir, means defining a conic section rail-confronting hollow with vertically spaced arcual grooves in said lever to one side of its-pivot, a movement limiting stop portion on the lever at the other side of said pivot, means for adjusting the degree of tension exerted by the lever-influencing spring, a cover for the reservoir with an aperture for normal projection of the lever rail confronting hollow portion thereabove, and clamp elements with means whereby the reservoir is rigidly connectable to the track rail base.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the reservoir back wall is longitudinally grooved along its top edge, a joint element is anchored in such groove for abutment below the rail head, and said reservoir is provided at its lower inner corners with means for vertically adjusting the joint element into sealing engagement with the rail head.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein the reservoir end walls have transverse members with grooves for sliding engagement therein of lateral flanges on the cover and overshot hinge defining edges, sloping side aprons having retroversions engage said hinge defining edges, and the cover has a drain rib sloping inwards from its medial point towards the rail web.

6. The combination of claim 3, wherein the spring-influenced lever hollow is in the nature of an inverted conic section, scoop facing the reservoir back wall, said hollow being defined by converging straight edges merging into an upper rounding and curvilinearly expanding downwards into a lower flare, and a plurality of arcual grooves of saw-tooth cross-section in the radial direction are formed in the upper part of said hollow, such grooves having their lower curved surfaces at substantially right angles to the plane of the rail web and their upper curvatures at an acute angle thereto.

7. A track rail lubricator comprising a receptacle for the lubricant, a rocker arm in said receptacle adapted for up-and-down movement, means defining a lubricant-elevating recess in said arm to one side of its axis of movement, and means effective to receive and retain some of the lubricant elevated from the receptacle for guidance and delivery to the side of the track rail head.

8. The combination of claim '7, wherein the lubricant elevating recess is of downwardlyexpanding invert-scoop formation, and the receiving-retainer means comprise vertically-spaced correspondinglydiminishing arcual grooves transversely of said elevating recess.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving and retaining some of the elevated lubricant comprise vertically spaced grooves in the reservoir wall confronting the rocker arm recess, and said grooves, are of graduated upwardly-diminishing capacity.

10. The combination of claim 7, further characterized by end shielding means for the lubricant reservoir, said means being in the form of a downwardly and outwardly inclined apron efiective to protect the receptacle and associated parts from injury by damaging articles, said apron having a retroverted edge for sliding engagement with an overshot groove-forming member on the receptacle aforesaid, whereby said apron is movable until its inner edge abuts the rail web, and means for securing the apron in active position.

EDGAR E. MARTIN. 

